MaryMade Blog

Surprises in Medicine

2011-02-23T18:28:00.000-08:00

Thankfully, I have never had too many experiences with medical doctors outside of the routine annual appointments and really didn't have much in the way of positive or negative opinions about doctors. One opinion I guess I did have and didn't know it until here lately was that I did view doctors as care takers of business and not emotion. I do believe that all doctors must possess a sense of compassion or how else would they find motivation to make it through 36 hour residency rounds, but sometimes the doctors we see can become routine in practice and lose that patient care that we as patients yearn for and frankly need and deserve I believe. So, when I met a so called "great doctor" that I did not consider to have good bedside manner, and my vulnerable MAMA was involved, my feathers immediately started to ruffle. As my negative judgements began and the furrow in my brow got deeper, God revealed himself so clearly that I was brought to tears...literally. The doctor had to hand me the box of kleenex for goodness sake, which looking back I think he was just offering one, but I took the whole box. Haha! Looking back on that makes me laugh. I can't even tell you what he said, but it was so moving that I know it was God speaking to us at such a low time. God knew that speaking through someone so unexpected would make us stop in our tracks, REALLY listen and find strength to take that next step forward. Let me just say right now that writing is such a surprising therapy for me, so I thank you for reading no matter how few you are. I never had an interest in writing before, but it is definitely my way of releasing some of these thoughts running through my head.

On a side note, can I just say that I am in love with Mary Beth Chapman's Biography, Choosing to SEE...give it a read! Such a sad story, but the STRENGTH of that family is inspiring to say the least.

One of many dreams to come true

2011-01-31T18:13:00.000-08:00

Ever since my organization infatuation came to be, I have wanted a closet organization system of my very own. Well, now thanks to my wonderful parents - mom who is queen of organization, I now have one of these amazing closet systems of my very own! For the time being, this closet functions as a home office/sewing supply/scrapbooking/clothes closet, but here is to dreaming of what it could be used for one day...

www.easyclosets.com

Forewarning...on a more serious note...In an effort to keep some things personal, but to explain why I am about to write the following, I must explain a little about my family's current situation. My mom's health is for the time being not what it once was two months ago and because of this, I have taken a short leave from my job. I am so thankful for FMLA benefits and will be forever grateful for the time I have had just me and mom. During this time, I have experienced the love and compasssion of others so deeply that I am drawn to look within and ask myself how am I showing compassion to someone else today? How am I loving unconditionally? How am I giving myself in a way so selfless that my God would say well done, good and faithful servant? For example, one of my mom's friends was so concerned about my mom's nutrition that she spent who knows how many hours making my mom "adult baby food". Her theory was that if we could get nutritious food down to it's most simple form, that maybe the digestive system would accept it willingly. Bingo! It worked! Another example, mom wanted to get her hair done....ladies, you know how much better you feel when "you get your hair did"...so the lady that does mom's hair not only took her day off to do mom's hair so that mom wouldn't have to be around a bunch of people during a very emotional time, but refused to let her pay for it. And as for me, I have a friend who is more like a sister who has called me or texted me almost every single day since I started feeling like my world was falling apart...and has not stopped now that I seem to have my act together. I am part of a LifeGroup with girls who have only known me for 4 months and have brought dinner to my parents whom they have never even met. I know that all of us have examples such as these that are infinite in number, but I am writing it down in order to challenge myself and maybe someone else too...to dig deep and think, am I giving enough of myself right now? Is there someone that I know that is hurting and am I doing my part to let that person know I care and am willing to walk the line with them? There is nothing that will bring you to your knees like a time of personal tribulation, but I pray that one lesson that I have learned and that will not leave me is that I need to be in a constant state of showing others love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness...to the MAX!

Purpose of Blog

2011-01-27T17:48:00.001-08:00

And an answer to your question, what is the purpose of this blog then if you hate to sew....the answer is whatever I choose for it to be!!! Maybe I will post a pic of the awesome closet organization system that was recently purchased for my spare bedroom! Man, I wish I took a before pic, but once the project commenced, I couldn't wait one more second to rid the closet of all clutter....and since I got into an organizing whirlwind, the attic and garage got some re-organizing too! I told you...it's an obsession!

If I am leaving you completely confused and you were expecting to see sewing tidbits, read below!

Confession

2011-01-27T17:08:00.000-08:00

I have a confession. I HATE to sew! There it is. I am sure I will regret that statement at some point, but right now I have to get that off my chest. I have been pursuing a venture that I thought was a good idea, but after several projects, it is NOT for me...outside of sewing for my own personal gain that is. I had a natural talent that I thought I should cultivate, but talent without passion is dead. I apologize if I have painted the illusion of being a Martha Stewart in the making and romanticized the idea of me sewing away with a smile on my face and not one single finger pricked with a pin. My husband can attest to the complete falsification of this idea. He has actually purchased a massage for me upon the completion of a project in order to release me of the anxiety that immediately filled my life once I got a request, "can you sew xyz?". I know...no pain, no gain, but the gain in my case is NOT worth the pain. I'm not going to say I will never turn to sewing if I find myself in need of some extra funds, but during a time of intense soul searching, I have to ask myself, what makes me tick? What are my passions, what puts a big smile on my face, what is something I can do with my eyes closed, what is something others may consider a skill and I consider a way of life? The answer to this question is ORGANIZING!!! Just to tell you how much of an obsession it is, I recently walked into a gorgeous home and the chaos that existed in the foyer alone would be overwhelming to most to the point they would run for cover. Don't even get me started on what the laundry room looked like. Have you ever seen the show Hoarders? Well, for meeeee, it was all
I could do not to start picking up and going through the mountainous piles of stuff immediately. I actually fantasized about how I would make a proposition to clean, de-clutter and organize this home for $2,000...most girls dream of closets full of shoes...and yes I dream of that too, but among my dreams are also ways I can organize. I feel like the Wicked Wizard of the West saying to Dorothy, "come here my pretty...and your little dog too!". Except what I say is something along the lines of look at that pile of clutter, guess what you are going to look like in an hour! Now, back to the point of this post...of course there are numerous things other than organizing that make me tick, but organization teams are not wide-spread in Montgomery and there may be a market for this type of occupation. I know there are plenty of moms out there with a few little ones running around that can not find the time to organize that closet of toys or can't even see past the mess just to come up with a solution of how to organize. I have no education about organizing, I just know what works for me and for now, I just want to send this blog out to whoever may read it as a sort of therapy for myself...to talk about what I love to do at my own home and what I would one day like to do at yours as well.

Camera Strap Covers

2010-11-28T17:49:00.000-08:00

My husband and I recently purchased a new camera and I fell in love with the two sided camera strap covers...functional yet stylish and I wanted one! Just another reason I love knowing how to sew! Buy yours today! $30

About Me

2010-11-28T08:57:00.000-08:00

Accountant by day, seamstress by night....interesting combo, right? I guess you could say my night job allows me to use my creative side since Accounting is oh so exciting! I started sewing a few years ago and fell in love with it! Thanks to my wonderful family and friends with their unwavering support, I decided to see where I could take this little hobby of mine. I hope each person that checks out my blog finds it useful and who knows... maybe it will motivate you to take the plunge to redecorate! Enjoy!

References:

Beth from Auburn says,

MaryMade is amazing. Mary listened to all of my ideas and translated them into "sewing language". She told me exactly how much fabric to buy, how to make certain ideas work better, and she's extremely affordable. You get WAY more than you pay for...she's a hidden treasure for sure. I fell very lucky to have found her blog. My daughter's room is just the way I imagined and Mary made it all! I will use her again for my sewing project!

Bonnie from Montgomery says,

"Mary Causey with MaryMade has done several projects for me in my home. She has sewn gorgeous curtains for my breakfast room and living room. She created breathtaking curtains for my daughter’s nursery and also made a matching pillow. My mother has also used MaryMade for projects in her home, and she was thrilled with the results as well!"

"Mary pays excellent attention to detail, and she has consistent results. She is also able to work hard and under pressure with deadlines. Accuracy is essential to Mary and she also uses initiative to think outside the box! This is especially great for people like me because I can’t always make up my mind on things. Mary is very good at taking instruction, and she is not afraid to ask questions to be sure she understands what you want. Mary displays great professionalism, great attitude, and work ethic. She is so much fun to work with, and I will certainly use her for years and years to come!"

Laura from Montgomery says,

"Mary’s accounting skills definitely shine through in her sewing creations. Her measurements are very precise, her work is impeccable, and her projects are completed in a timely fashion. She has gone above and beyond to help us personalize our master bedroom. She supplied ample suggestions for bed skirt styles, ideas for window treatments, etc. I don’t know what I would’ve done without her!! She is such a joy to work with. I will definitely use her again for all of my future decorating projects. I can’t wait for her to transform the rest of our home."

Janel from Fairhope says,

"I am EXTREMELY happy with my purchase from Mary!! She is so talented!! I will definitely be doing business with her again!! I can not express to you how GORGEOUS my valance is...I LOVE IT and so does everyone else who sees it!!!!"

Current Projects

2010-09-18T05:54:00.000-07:00

This is definitely the year for Roman Shades! I am finishing up a roman shade of my own and then about to start a project including four roman shades...all of which have outside mounting. This allows the roman shade to be hung above the window creating the illusion that the window is larger than it really is. Since this client is using the roman shades as decor only and did not want to block the view of her gorgeous back yard and pond, outside mounting is definitley the way to go. Pictures to come soon! I hope everyone gets a chance to get outside and enjoy this gorgeous weekend!

"Big Girl" Room

2010-09-18T05:50:00.000-07:00

Blanket and Accent Bed Sheet

Roman Shade - We decided not to use the ribbon because it was causing the fabric to ripple...sometimes adjustments have to be made! Sorry these pics are arranged like this. I don't know how to fix it, but have determined that when the client emails me pictures, they download this funky way. Sorry!

Custom Made

2010-08-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

White curtains with accent band sewn to bottom and pink fringe. I don't know why these three pictures downloaded this way, but this room is too cute, so I had to include them.

White cornice board with pink monogram and accent fringe and ruffles. See next pic for closer detail.

Cornice Board with 10" monogram

Tailored bedskirt, small pillows with side fringe and matching band sewn to bottom hem of pre-made panels.

Tailored King Bedskirt

Knife Edge pillow with multi-pleat side fringe

Hand sewn multi-pleat fringe

Knife Edge pillow with side fringe

All Cornice Boards are custom made to size specifications

Lined silk panels with fringe. Silk panels require lining plus interlining to protect the fabric from sun damage

Lined panels with coordinating band sewn to bottom hem

Simple un-lined valances with rod pocket design

Drape with rod pocket design and coordinating tie backs

Matching pillow with fringe

Queen Bedskirt

Flange and knife edge pillows with side trim

Large Flange Pillow

Un-lined panels attached to curtain rod with clips

Valance with trim

Lined panels attached to curtain rod with clips

Lined valances with curtain rod clips used to creat "feux pleats"

2010-08-01T15:01:00.000-07:00

Reconstructed pillow cases - this customer had the idea to take an existing pillow case, remove the cuff and attach it to the edge of a pillow case I made using some fun fabric. What a cute idea!

Notice the "Accent Flap" that adds a little extra detail to these two toned panels

2010-03-22T18:42:00.000-07:00

Inside Awning - Custom made Awning frame by Gowan Iron of Montgomery

Roman Shade

2010-03-10T18:25:00.000-08:00

Roman Shade with inside window mount

Bench Cushion Cover

Pricing

2010-02-10T21:10:00.000-08:00

Prices may vary depending on size and scope of each project. Below are starting price points for common projects.

Panels:
Lined - starting at $50 each
Unlined - starting at $40 each
*Additional $5 per foot for fringe

Valances:
Lined - starting at $40 each
Unlined - starting at $30 each
*Additional $5 per foot for fringe

Awning Curtain:
Lined - $50

Fabric Covered Cornice Board:
Price includes materials and assembly of cornice board
(does not include fabric) - $80
Ruffles - additional $15
Fringe - additional $15

Fabric Covered Headboard:
$450 - price includes cost of wood, foam and batting (price subject to change based on sales price of foam and batting)
Tufting - additional $50
Cording - additional $50
Single row of brass nail heads - additional $50
Double row of brass nail heads - additional $80

Roman Shade:
Standard Window - $90
*prices vary based on window dimensions

Pillows:
Small - $25
Medium - $30
Large - $35
*Additional $5 per foot for fringe

Bedskirt:
Queen $100
King $125

Bench Cushion Cover:
cushion pictured $50
*prices vary based on dimensions

Table Skirt and Topper:
Skirt $30
Topper $20

If you are interested in something that is not listed above, don't hesitate to contact me so that we can discuss your ideas.

Fabric Covered Head Boards

2010-01-05T19:05:00.001-08:00

Double Row of Brass Nail Heads

References

2009-11-09T17:42:00.000-08:00

Bonnie from Montgomery says,

"Mary Causey with MaryMade has done several projects for me in my home. She has sewn gorgeous curtains for my breakfast room and living room. She created breathtaking curtains for my daughter’s nursery and also made a matching pillow. My mother has also used MaryMade for projects in her home, and she was thrilled with the results as well!

Mary pays excellent attention to detail, and she has consistent results. She is also able to work hard and under pressure with deadlines. Accuracy is essential to Mary and she also uses initiative to think outside the box! This is especially great for people like me because I can’t always make up my mind on things. Mary is very good at taking instruction, and she is not afraid to ask questions to be sure she understands what you want. Mary displays great professionalism, great attitude, and work ethic. She is so much fun to work with, and I will certainly use her for years and years to come!"

Laura from Montgomery says,

"Mary’s accounting skills definitely shine through in her sewing creations. Her measurements are very precise, her work is impeccable, and her projects are completed in a timely fashion. She has gone above and beyond to help us personalize our master bedroom. She supplied ample suggestions for bed skirt styles, ideas for window treatments, etc. I don’t know what I would’ve done without her!! She is such a joy to work with. I will definitely use her again for all of my future decorating projects. I can’t wait for her to transform the rest of our home.

Janel from Fairhope says,

"I am EXTREMELY happy with my purchase from Mary!! She is so talented!! I will definitely be doing business with her again!! I can not express to you how GORGEOUS my valance is...I LOVE IT and so does everyone else who sees it!!!!"

Contact Me

2009-07-20T14:09:00.007-07:00

I can be contacted by email or phone. Please leave a message and I will return your phone call after 5:00 pm. Also, I love feedback, so don't hesitate to leave me a message on my blog to let me know what you think or ideas you may have!

Email: marymade09@gmail.com
Home Phone: 334-613-8567
Cell Phone: 334-414-0441

To Get Started...

2009-07-20T14:09:00.005-07:00

The planning stage is my favorite and least favorite part. I get excited because I am doing something new to my home, but at the same time I get overwhelmed because of all the options to choose from! Thinking through these three main points sometimes alleviates that unnecessary stress. Remember, this is supposed to be FUN!!!

Fabric, Fabric, Fabric!
It's important to look around your room when deciding on a fabric. If you are starting with a blank canvas, great - the sky is the limit. But, if you are updating your curtains, and want to keep your bedding the same, it's important to take a pillow or cushion with you so that you can match colors/patterns/fringe.

A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words
Get some magazines and look at the curtains, pillows, etc. Do you like long and tailored, do you like ruffles, do you like the rod to show or do you want it hidden, do you like clips or do you like tab-tops or tie backs, do you like pleats, do you like fringe? Look at the pictures under Custom Made for a quick guideline. Once you have decided what you want, try to find a picture so that I can make sure to get as close as possible to the look you are going for. http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/ is my new favorite website - view it for some examples of truly beautiful curtains.

How much fabric do I need?
For standard panels with single width, measure from the curtain rod to desired length. Add 14 inches for the top and bottom hems and this is the amount of fabric you should purchase. If your panels will be lined, get the same amount as your fabric, less the additional 14 inches. Double and triple width curtains make a huge difference, so I encourage you to go for a less expensive fabric so that you can purchase enough material to have double or triple width curtains made. For two double width panels in a standard room, 12 yards of fabric should be purchased.
Small pillow, 1/2 yard of fabric
Medium pillow, 3/4 yard of fabric
Large Pillow, 1 yard of fabric